“As you stand before the altar of the Lord to renew your ordination promises, let your heart be filled with the renewed zeal for your sacred calling. Reaffirm your commitment to serve God and His people with humility, integrity, and fidelity,” Bishop Mweempwa said.
The Bishop who has been at the helm of the Zambian Diocese since his Episcopal Ordination in May 2022 emphasized the relationship that exists between the members of the Clergy and the laity, calling for mutual support between the two.
“To the faithful gathered here, you are also called to renew your commitment to live according to your vocation, but at the same time I urge you to support and pray for your priests, remember we belong to each other, we support each other,” he said.
He added, “Priests have a lot of responsibilities and face a lot of challenges in their ministry. Let us pray for them, offering them encouragement and attitude for their tireless dedication to God’s kingdom and His people.”
Bishop Mweempwa said that the Clergy and the laity share in the Priesthood of Jesus Christ through various ways. He explained that the Clergy share in the Priesthood through the priestly ministry and the laity through Baptism.
“All the baptized participate in the Priesthood of Christ and are called to lives of holiness and service,” Bishop Mweempwa said, and added, “We have been anointed, let us not waste our anointing.”
He said, “Today as we celebrate this Chrism Mass, all of us, let us renew our belonging to God to serve Him, to serve His kingdom of love, Justice and peace, truth and liberation.”
The 49-year-old Bishop explained the essence of the Charism oils he was about to bless, saying, “These oils are not mere symbols but tangible expressions of God’s grace and mercy. They are instruments of giving, reconciliation, and empowerment enabling us to be faithful stewards of the mysteries of God.”
“If we are consecrated to God, we belong to each other, we are members of one body of Christ,” the Bishop said, and added, “Because we belong to each other, then we are servants of one another, Priests and all the baptized.”
Silas Mwale Isenjia is a Kenyan journalist with a great zeal and interest for Catholic Church related communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communication from Moi University in Kenya. Silas has vast experience in the Media production industry. He currently works as a Journalist for ACI Africa.
